High-riding Sables have three doubtful starters that include Cleopas Makotose when they take on the Uganda Cranes at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Saturday as they continue with their quest to clinch this year’s Victoria Cup.
Coach Brendan Dawson yesterday said the former Sables captain Makotose was injured while two other unidentified players were down with flu.
He however hoped the three would be fit by Thursday.
“We just came into camp yesterday (Monday). We have one or two injuries and two players have flu. Cleopas Makotose is one of the injured players but by Thursday we will know who is in. Thursday is our cut-off date,” Dawson said.
On Tuesday, the Sables had workouts at Christian Brothers College in the morning and afternoon.
Despite the casualties, Dawson said preparations for the match had been going on well and said the Saturday game would be a tough encounter.
“So far the preparations have been going on pretty well. It is going to be a tough game. The Ugandans will be out to prove themselves,” Dawson said.
The Sables were at Hartsfield last year for the Pool C Africa Cup which involved Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar and Botswana.
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Last Saturday, they beat Kenya 42-24 at the Harare Sports Club in another Victoria Cup encounter and they face the Uganda Cranes beaming with confidence after that emphatic victory.
The Sables beat the Rugby Cranes 25-15 a fortnight ago in Uganda in the same tournament in a match that also served as an Africa Cup tie.
The Zimbabwe rugby national team leads the three-team log with nine points from two matches having beaten both Kenya and Uganda.
Halfback Charles Jiji, winger Gardner Nechironga, fullback Danny Robertson and flanker Jacques Leitao are available for the Saturday match.
Also available will be fly-half Tichafara Makwanya, Costa Dinha and Schalke Ferreira who played his first game against Kenya last week.
The Sables camp also includes captain Daniel Hondo and fullback Danny Robertson. The Ugandans arrive in Bulawayo on Friday.
